School presses on as sisters leave

After 56 years of serving the people of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Schenectady, the Religious Teachers Filippini will leave the parish in June.

"It is always painful for the provincial administration to make the decision to withdraw our sisters from a school and parish, especially one in which we have served for over 50 years, as is the case with Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Schenectady," said Sister Frances Lauretti, provincial superior of the order. "Lack of personnel is our reason for withdrawal."

The order, based in Morristown, New Jersey, staffs schools and parish programs in New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as the school in Schenectady.

History at parish

The Sisters first came to the parish in 1942 to teach religious education. When the school opened in 1960, they staffed it as well.

In the past ten years, however, the number of sisters staffing the school has decreased. During the 1984-85 school year, there were seven sisters on staff; this year, there are two.

"This decision was a painful one for our community to reach since our sisters have served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel for many years," said Sister Elizabeth Calello, principal. "In recent years, we have struggled to keep our commitment to the school [despite] a lack of personnel and community needs. Our withdrawal is due to our community's aging population, lack of personnel to staff our schools and to a very limited number of women entering our religious order."

Emotions

It is an emotional time at the school and parish, Sister Elizabeth said. Not only is the religious community saddened by the withdrawal, but so are parents, students and long-time parishioners.

"There are a lot of emotions," she said. "When a community withdraws from a school, it is not the same as leaving your job. The ministry -- in this case, to the education of youth -- is an extension of the lifestyle we have chosen. When that comes to an end, it is always a painful experience for those of us who have to leave, and for those with whom we worked with and shared our lives with."

While the sisters are leaving the school, Sister Elizabeth is confident that the traditions of the Religious Teachers Filippini will continue at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.

"Our community's charism is to go and teach the word of God," she explained. "I believe that our charism will continue at Mount Carmel. There are good Christian people that teach and staff our school. They are people who live and share the Gospel message through their words and by their actions. That's what makes Mount Carmel so special."

Still Catholic

Sister Elizabeth said it is not necessary to have women religious present in order to have a Catholic school.

"A Catholic school will always remain a Catholic school as long as the people that give it life believe and teach the richness of our faith," she stated. "The sisters presence in a school is something special -- it moves and enriches the lives of the people and the children they minister to because they are women of God. But we must remember that all baptized possess God's presence within them. A Catholic school can be Catholic without sisters."

Rose Ciervo, a long-time parishioner and school board member, agrees that the school could maintain its Catholicity without the sisters.

"I think we can maintain it, but nobody can take the place of a sister," she said. "They brought a personal touch. I wish they weren't going. I've been a personal friend for many years."

The challenge, Miss Ciervo said, will be financial because the school will have to fill two positions currently staffed by sisters.

Next steps

Sister Mary Jane Herb, IHM, superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese, said that her office will work with the school board at Mount Carmel to find a new principal for the next school year.

The announcement from the Religious Sisters Filippini comes as the Catholic schools of the Diocese are involved in long-range planning.

"The Diocesan School Board continues the planning process which it started last year," the superintendent said. "In that process, we are looking at the educational needs and resources of all of our schools. We are confident that schools like Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the seven other Catholic schools in Schenectady will continue to provide a faith-filled, values-based education for the children in this community whose parents choose Catholic education."

(A closing liturgy of gratitude for the Religious Teachers Filippini will be held June 13 at 5 p.m.)

(03-05-98) [[In-content Ad]]